PICK-UP TRUCK BOX COVER

Abstract

A cover assembly for a pick-up truck cargo box includes first and second rails attachable at the sides of the box. A cover has a first resilient hinge strip connecting a first panel to a second panel and allowing the first panel to pivot relative to the second panel. A third panel is attached to the second panel by a second resilient hinge strip, which allows the second panel to pivot relative to the third panel. The panels are supported on the rails. Latches on the panels hold the panels onto the rails. The cover may be opened by sequentially releasing the latches and folding the panels over onto each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element in each of the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel cover installed on a pick-up truck.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover and pick-up truck box shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of components of the cover assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective section view showing an example of an installation of the cover assembly shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a panel of the cover shown in FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the core end frames and hinge strip shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cover assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the first panel folding over onto the second panel of the cover.

FIG. 10 is a side view similar to FIG. 9 and showing the first and second panels folding over onto the third panel of the cover.

FIG. 11 is a similar side view showing the first, second, and third panels folding over onto a fourth panel of the cover.

FIG. 12 is a similar side view showing the cover fully folded or open.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the cover as shown in FIG. 12.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for a pick-up truck cargo box, comprising: a first rail attachable to a first side of the cargo box;a second rail attachable to a second side of the cargo box;a cover attachable to the first and second rails, with the cover including: a first panel;a second panel;a first resilient hinge strip connecting the first panel to the second panel and allowing the first panel to pivot relative to the second panel;a third panel; anda second resilient hinge strip connecting the second panel to the third panel and allowing the second panel to pivot relative to the third panel.

2. The cover assembly of claim 1 with the first rail having a clamp plate and a lip plate at substantially a right angle to the clamp plate, and with a drain channel attached to the clamp plate.

3. The cover assembly of claim 1 with the first rail having an inner cover support surface spaced apart from an outer cover support surface, and with a drain opening between the inner and outer cover support surfaces.

4. The cover assembly of claim 2 with the first rail further comprising a latch channel joined to the drain channel.

5. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second rails are substantially the same length as the cargo box.

6. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third, and/or a fourth panel are substantially rectangular or tapered to match the shape of the cargo box.

7. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third panels each have a front, back, left and right edge, and with the first hinge strip attached to the front edge of the first panel and to the back edge of the second panel, and with the second hinge strip attached to the front edge of the second panel and to the back edge of the third panel, and further comprising a resilient left cover strip attached to the left edge of the first, second, and third panels, and a resilient right cover strip attached to the right edge of the first, second, and third panels, and with left cover strip extending over the first rail and with the right cover strip extending over the second rail.

8. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third panels each have a front, back, left and right edge, with substantially each panel comprising: a honeycomb or synthetic core, a top sheet and a bottom sheet attached respectively to top and bottom surfaces of the core;left and right side frames attached respectively to the left and right sides of the core;front and rear frames attached respectively to the front and rear sides of the core;with the first resilient hinge strip attached to the front frame of the first panel and to the rear frame of the second panel, and with the second resilient hinge strip attached to the front frame of the second panel and to the rear frame of the third panel; anda left cover strip attached to the left side frame, and a right cover strip attached to the right side frame, of substantially each of the first, second and third panels.

9. The cover assembly of claim 3 wherein the support surfaces are positioned to support the cover with a top surface of the cover substantially flush with an upper surface of the cargo box.

10. The cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising a support bar associated with the first hinge strip.

11. The cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising a slam latch assembly on a bottom surface of each of the panels, with the slam latch assembly including a latch engageable into a latch channel in the first rail, and a release line attached to the latch for disengaging the latches from the latch channel.

12. The cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising: an extension plate on each of the rails;a cab panel;a first resilient hinge strip connecting the first panel to the cab panel and allowing the first panel to pivot relative to the cab panel; andfasteners attaching the cab panel to the extension plate on each of the rails.

13. The cover assembly of claim 12 further comprising a compression spring element attached to the first rail and to the third panel.

14. A cover comprising: a first panel;a second panel;a second hinge strip connecting the first panel to the second panel, with the first panel pivotable relative to the second panel;a third panel; anda third hinge strip connecting the second panel to the third panel, with the second panel pivotable relative to the third panel;the first, second and third panels each have a front, back, left and right edge, and with the first hinge strip attached to the front edge of the first panel and to the back edge of the second panel, and with the second hinge strip attached to the front edge of the second panel and to the back edge of the third panel,a resilient left cover strip attached to the left edge of the first, second and third panels, and a resilient right cover strip attached to the right edge of the first, second and third panels, and with left cover strip extending over the first rail and with the right cover strip extending over the second rail.

15. The cover of claim 14 wherein the first, second, and third panels each comprise: a core, a top sheet and a bottom sheet attached respectively to top and bottom surfaces of the core;left and right side frames attached respectively to the left and right sides of the core;front and rear frames attached respectively to the front and rear sides of the core;with the first hinge strip attached to the front frame of the first panel and to the rear frame of the second panel, and with the second hinge strip attached to the front frame of the second panel and to the rear frame of the third panel; anda left cover strip attached to the left side frame, and a right cover strip attached to the right side frame, of substantially each of the first, second, and third panels.

16. The cover of claim 14 further comprising: a fourth panel;a third hinge strip connecting the third panel to the fourth panel and allowing the third panel to pivot relative to the fourth panel;with the first, second, and third panels having substantially the same width, and with the fourth panel having a width less than the width of the first, second, and third panels.

17. The cover of claim 16 with all of the panels having substantially the same length.

18. The cover of claim 14 further comprising a left latch adjacent to the left side and a right latch adjacent to the right side of each.

19. The cover of claim 14 with the first and second hinge strips each comprising a resilient material, including a first fitting for attachment to the first panel, a second fitting for attachment to the second panel, and a web section joining the first and second fittings.

20. The cover of claim 14 with the first hinge strip including a first spacer bar having a first width, and with the second hinge strip having a second spacer bar having a second width, and with the second width greater than the first width.

21. A method for operating a cover on a pick-up truck box, comprising: opening a tailgate of the pick-up truck;releasing at least one pair of latches on a first panel of a box cover;folding the first panel over onto a second panel of the cover;releasing at least one pair of second latches on the second panel of the cover;folding the first panel together with the second panel over onto a third panel of the cover; andreleasing at least one pair of third latches on the third panel; andmoving the third panel together with the first and second panels into a substantially over upright position.

22. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the hinge strip is seamless.

23. The cover assembly of claim 8 wherein the top sheet will expand when heated to create an upward bowing effect.

24. The cover assembly of claim 8 wherein the side frames comprise extrusions, and wherein the frames are attached to the core by adhesion, without use of through fasteners.